Pressure regulator



nec. 9, 1924.

W. S. RALSTON' PRESSURE REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheel'I l Filed July 5, 1921[III] Dec. l 9, l 924 W. S. RALSTON RRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Ju-ly 5,1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ricerca Der. e, 1924.

NETED STATES WILLIAM S. RALSTON, 0F ITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, SSIGNOB TOTHE CHAPLIN- 'FULTON MANUFACTU NG COMPANY, PORATIQN 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA', A COB- rnnssunn REGULATOR.

Application med July 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. RALs'roN, of Pittsburgh, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pressure Regulators; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

'Ihis invention relates to pressure regulators, and particularly to suchas include a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a balanced. valvecontrolling communication between such inlet and outlet, the valve beingseated through the instrumentality ot a diaphragm connected with thevalve stem and which diaphragm is subjected to pressure from the outletside ot the regulator, a weighted lever being. employed to resist theclosing action ot the diaphragm. Pressure regulators, as is well known,are subjected to extremely heavy loads at certain intervals in a day andduring these periods there is a noticeable drop in pressure at theoutlet ot theregulator where, because ot the demand, there should be aslight increase in pressure. Recourse is frequently had to a manualadjustment of the diaphragm controlling weight to compensate for theheavy` pull, the weight being again manually moved when normalconditions are restored.

It is the object of my invention to produce a regulator which willautomatically maintain a constantputlet pressure during normal loads,and during peak load periods, the device being capable ot suchadjustment asfto insure maintenance of a constant outlet pressure duringnormal load periods, and an increased outlet pressure during peak loadperiods.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional' view of a'lowpressure regulator equipped with my improvements, the position ofthelever and the weight supporting arm when the valve is open beingindicated in dotted lines. Figure2 shows in side elevation a slightlydiierent arrangement of lever control, and in Figure 3- there is shown afurther modification of the leverage mechanism.

rllhe pressure regulator shown in the drawings is the well known Fultonapparatus and includes a 'casing 1, inlet port 1921. Serial N0. 482,324.

2, outlet 3, balanced valve 4 havin its stem operably connected with thedepen ing stem of the diaphragm 5. In Fioure l a lever 6 is shownconnected with the diaphragm stem at 7 and pivoted on a cut off link 8which is in turn pivotally connected with the casin Referrmg to Figure1, two side bars which form a supporting arm 21 are attached at one endof the casing b the same means, a pin 22, which latter a so e'ects thecon'- nection between the cut olf link and casing, this supporting arm21 forming a carrier for a weight 23 suspended from a hanger 24 which isadapted to be operably secured to the carrier through any one of theholes 25 of the latter by a stud 26. This stud erforms the additionalfunction of an axis or a grooved wheel 27 through which the power of theweight is communicated to the lever 6, the wheel having rolling contactwith the lever. Variation in outlet pressure due to the ordinaryvariation in the inlet pressure or outlet load is usually small and notobjectionable, while a wide variation in inlet pressure or outlet loadcauses a greater ductuation in outlet pressure, and this excessive eltluctation is compensated for through the instrumentality of therolling connection ot the weight'with the lever. The amount ot travel ofthe grooved wheel 27 on the lever 6 may, manifestly from the describedconstruction be increased or diminished and depends on the distancebetween the tulcruni of the lever and the support arm pin 22 and alsothe distance between the lever fulcrum and the grooved wheel 27. Theconstruction is such that adjustment may be .had which will insure amaintained constant pressure or onewhich will edect an increase with theload. In Figure 2 I have shown a sllghtly modified arrangement of theWeight supporting means, a primary lever 36 being tulcrume on the casingand a secondaryleveiI or supporting arm 37 also having its pivotcounection with the casing. The two levers are arran ed in spacedparallelism, one above the ot er, and to the seconda-ry lever 37 1ssecured a roller bearing sheave 38, the wheel 39 having rolling contactwith the lever 36. A weight 40 is appropriately secured on the outer endof the secondary lever and is capable of being variably positioned onsaid lever. The roller bearing sheave may be moved in or out on thesecondary lever by simply loosening the set screws 4,1. This permits ofready adjustment to secure, when the sheave is moved outwardly, constantpressure, or when the sheave is moved toward the pivot of the lever, apressure commensurate with the load, the weight thus becomin moreeffective. Y

he effectiveness of my improvement-in the art for maintaining a constantoutlet pressure during normal load periods, and an increased outletpressure during peak load periods, is graphically shown -see Figs.. 1`and 2) by the lines A, B, the former being the 'arc of acirclewith thefulcrumof the 'main lever as a center, and the line B being an arc of acircle whose center is the pivot pin of the supporting arm or secondarylever, these lines clearly showing that as the valve 4 opens and theouter end of the lever 6 (or the lever 36 of Figure 2) descends, thegrooved wheel rolls out. The effect of the weight will be greater whenthe valve is open than when closed, resulting in a higher outletpressure during peak loads. The regulator shown in Figure 3 includes aleverage connection between the weight and the stem of the diaphragmwhich may be adjusted on the field for any type of regulation desired,an increased outlet. pressure during peak loads, or a constant pressureat all loads. A lever 50 is pivotalliy; secured to a link 51 which isconnected wit a part of the diaphragm casting. The leverl 50 hasa-counterweight 52 on its short arm and is connected with the diaphragmstem at 53. The power of a weight 54 carriedby a secondary lever 55 istransmitted to the lever 50 through a roller 56 adapted for variableadjustment on the lever 55, a series of holes 57 for .the roller axlebeing provided. Adjustment of the roller on the outer end of the secondalever and variation of the position of the inner end of the lever on thevalve casing, for which urpose a series of openings 58 are provided) inan ear on the casing, regulates the pressure, causing an 1ncreasedoutlet pressure during peak loads, or a constant pressure at all loads,dcterlmined by the emplacement of the weight on the lever 50.

I claim as my invention: A

1. In a regulator of the type includin a casing,` a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a iaphragm, a lever, and a controlling wei ht actingdirectly upon said lever, such iaphragm and lever cooperating each wlththe other and with said valve for electing ac tuation of the valve underinfluence of res- Sure on said diaphragm, means for app ying the weightof said lever to automatically maintain the valve in position to eiectan increased outlet ressure during peak loads or a constantout etpressure at all loads, or

. sure on said diaphragm,

an increasein pressure with an increase in load.

2. In a regulator of the type including a asing, a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a diaphragm, a lever, and a controlling weight actingdirectly4 upon said lever, such diaphragm and lever cooperating eachwith the other and with said valve for eiecting actuation of the valveunder influence of presmeans for applying the weight of said lever toautomatically maintain the valve in position to effect an increasedoutlet pressure at all loads, or an increase in pressure with anincrease in load, and means for etl'ecting a variation of position ofJsaid weight applying means relatively to said weight controlled lever.

3. In a regulator of the type including a casing, a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a

diaphragm and a weight controlled lever, such diaphragm and levercoopcratin each with the other and with said valve or effectingactuation of the valve under influence of pressure on said diaphra meansfor applying the Weight of said lever to automatically maintain thevalve in position to effect an increased outlet ressure during peakloads or a constant out et pressure at all loads, or an increase inpressure with in increase in load, comprising a supporting arm pivotedto saidicasing, and to which the weight for said lever is relativelyfixed, and a rolling connection between said arm and said lever.

fecting actuation of the valve under influence of presure on saiddiaphragm, means for applying the weight of said lever to automaticallymaintain the valve in position to effect an increased outlet pressure atall loads, or an increase in pressure with an increase in load,comprising a supporting arm pivoted to said casng, to which the Weightfor said lever is relatively fixed, and a rolling connection betweensaid arm and said lever, and means for increasing or decreasing theeffectiveness of said weight applying means.

5. In a regulator of the type including a casing, a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a diaphragm and a weight controlled lever, suc diaphragm andlever cooperating each with the other and with said valve for effectingactuation of the valve under iniluence ofpresure on said diaphragm,means for Vapplying the weight of said lever to automatically maintainthe valve in position to effect an increased outlet pressure during peakloads or aconstant outlet pressure at all loads, or an increase inpressure with an increase in load, comprising a supamenace porting armadapted for pivotal connection with saidcasing through any one of aseries of spaced openin the weight for said lever being secure to saidlarm at selective points adjacent its outer end, and a rollingconnection between said arm and said lever.

6. lin a regulator of the type including a casing, a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a diaphragm, a lever, a controlling weight acting directlyupon said lever, said diaphragm and lever cooperating each with theother and with said valve for eiecting actuation of the valveunderiniluence ofy pressurey on said diaphragm, and means influencingsaidweight for automatically operating said lever to maintain the valveat any osition with respect to its seat to accommo ate the varyingconditions of pressure and loads.,

7. ln a regulator of the type including a casing, a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a diaphragm and a weight controlled lever, such diaphragmand lever cooperatin each with the other and with said valve oreffectingfactuation of the valve under `influence of pressure on saiddiaphragm, means for applying the weight of said lever to automaticallymaintain the valve in position to effect an increased outlet pressureduring peak loads or a constant outlet pressure at all loads, or anincrease in pressure with an increase in load, comprising a supportingarm pivoted to said casing, and having a movable connection with saidlever, and the weightl for said lever carried hy said arm.

8. ln a regulator of the type including a y casing,v a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a diaphragm, a lever, such diaphragm and lever cooperatingeach with the other and with said valve for edecting actuation of thevalve under influence of Y ressure on said diaphragm, means movableengthwise of said lever in engagement therewith for automaticallyoperating said lever to maintain the valve in any position with respectto its seat to accommodate the varyf ing conditions of pressure andloads.

9. In a regulator of the type including a easing, a valve, a stem forsaid valve, a diaphragm, and a weight controlled lever,

said lever and diaphragm cooperating each i WILLIAM s. RALsToN.

